Full Text of Buhari’s Speech on Presidential Election Eve

President Muhammadu Buhari has once again urged Nigerians to exercise their rights to participate actively in the rescheduled elections slated for Saturday, February 23, 2019.

THE FULL SPEECH

Dear Nigerians,

Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year’s general elections.

Tomorrow, the polls open. Tomorrow, we affirm that Nigeria stands as a democracy and that no worldly hand can deter us from this wise and fitting path we have chosen for ourselves.

While democracy is the most beneficial way to select a nation’s leaders, it is far from the easiest thing to achieve and maintain.

It requires a combination of patience, tolerance, compassion, diligence, wisdom and hope. These traits exist in us the Nigerian people. Because of who we are, democracy has the chance to flourish in this land.

Thus, I commend all of you for your patience and peaceful conduct so far during this electoral season and especially during this intervening week following the postponement of the February 16 elections.

Many were worried and thought the worst might happen. You proved them wrong by showing that you are a great people with an abiding love for peace, democracy and the unity of our country.

According to the daily INEC public briefings given this week, the Electoral Commission says it is ready and fully prepared to conduct the election in a free, fair and transparent manner.

I believe INEC realises the profound and weighty duty that rests upon it.

We must cast aside doubt and have faith that INEC will rise to the occasion. We must believe and encourage INEC to fulfill and honour this responsibility it owes to our country.

As your President, I hereby ask all Nigerians with voting cards to participate in defining the future of our nation by exercising your democratic rights tomorrow. I urge you to go out and vote.

I say this because elections are the cornerstone of representative governance. And voting constitutes the highest and best expression of the sovereign will of the people to choose the government that best represents them.

It is only upon the freely expressed will of the people that government truly dedicated to the welfare, rights and interests of the people can be founded.

Do not allow anyone to discourage you from the exercise of your rights as citizens and voters tomorrow.

To vote means that you believe in Nigeria and the excellent things the future holds for this nation and its people.

No matter our political leanings, we all believe in Nigeria, in the noble principles for which it stands and in the values we strive for our beloved nation to uphold.

All who are able, must vote so that we may better perfect this democracy and continue to build the greater nation we seek.

Do not be afraid of rumours of violence and unrest. Our security agencies have worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place.

You will be able to vote in an atmosphere of openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation.

International and domestic monitors and observers are assured of their safety and freedom of movement needed to perform their important functions.

As we thank domestic monitors and observers for their contributions to our democracy, we also thank the international groups for the friendship and concern they have demonstrated to our nation.

We appreciate their efforts in encouraging us to further entrench and strengthen our democracy.

Tomorrow is an encounter with history in which you, the people, shall affirm your collective belief in our national greatness and in our future.

I ask that you embrace and hold on to the importance of the moment soon to be upon us.

Honour your civic duty as voters by going to the polls tomorrow to vote for the government of your choice, for the government that will lead Nigeria toward its finest destiny.

As citizens there is no greater duty than this and no greater honour. Tomorrow, I know you will once again make Nigeria proud of its people.

May God bless our democracy and forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Yobe PDP Chairman reportedly dumps party, joins APC

The Yobe State Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Sani Inuwa Nguru, on Thursday dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nguru was led to the Presidential Villa by Mohammed Yahuza a chieftain of APC in Yobe State and received by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP Chieftain who spoke in Hausa language said his visit to the presidential villa was to demonstrate his loyalty and desire to return home.

Soon after his defection, Nguru paid courtesy visit on President Muhammadu Buhari (as seen in the photo above).

“Less than 40 hours to Presidential Election, chairman of the PDP in Yobe State dumbed the party, joined APC and visited President @MBuhari this evening,” Personal Assistant to Buhari, Bashir Ahmad tweeted.

Osinbajo dismisses Fake News of Purported Resignation

Contrary to the fake news in circulation yesterday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has not resigned his position in the Buhari administration.

Speaking at a meeting with young Christian leaders in Lagos last night, Prof. Osinbajo debunked the purported resignation being circulated on some social media platforms. He dismissed the false information as deliberate propaganda.

He said, “They are deliberate propaganda. Today (Wednesday), they’ve been spreading some information around that I’ve resigned. They said I didn’t attend a security meeting yesterday. I was too busy in my office. The same security people were meeting with me that same evening. Must I attend every meeting? Can’t the President hold a meeting with the security chiefs without me? They said I was so angry that they didn’t bring me to that meeting, that I was excluded, then I resigned! I have not resigned.”

In continuation of the Next Level engagements, the Vice President visited Ikeja, Lagos State, where he met with the Hausa community. He then proceeded to Yola, in Adamawa State, where he met a group of Christian leaders. On his return to Lagos yesterday night, the Vice President held an interactive session with young Christian leaders at Muson Center, Onikan, where he spoke on the fake news.

Prof. Osinbajo continues the Next Level engagements and is expected in Kwara and Abia states later today.